Automatic stop for phonographs



Sept. 9, 1924'. 7

P. RICHTER AuToMA'rc s'roP Foa PHoNoGnAPHs Filed March 2e, 1924 2 Sheets-Shea). 1

INVENTOR. PAUL R/cHn-R. M l gru/:Mud V* Arrom've'vs, v

P. RICHTER AUTOMATIC STOP FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed March 26, 19244 Sept. 9 1924.

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Patented Sept. 9, i924.

UNHED STATES- PAUL RICHTER, or DALY CITY, CALIFORNIA.'

AUTOMATIC STOP FOB PHQNOGRAPI-IS.

Application filed March 26, 1924. Serial No. 702,017.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, PAUL RICHTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Daly City, county of San Mateo, and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Stops for Phonographs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an automatic stop mechanism for phonographs, and especially to improvements on the structure shown in my copending application entitled Automatic stop for phonographs filed May 23, 1923, Serial No. 640,818.

The object of the present invention is to generally improve the construction and operation of automatic stop mechanisms for phonographs and particularly to simplify the structure disclosed in my copending application above referred to.

The invention, specifically stated, embodies a turntable by which a disk record is supported and rotated` a tone arm and reproducer movable over the face of the record, a pointer arm also movable over the face of the record, afbrake mechanism carried by the said arm, a trip lever also carried by the arm, and adjustable means carried by the trip lever and adapted to be engaged by the tone arm, said adjustable means and the trip lever adapted to auto-I matically release the brake mechanism and stop rotation of the turntable and record when the end of the record is reached or at any intermediate point.

Cne form which the improved structure may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a phonograph showing the application of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view partly broken away and partly in section showing` the pointer arm, the brake mechanism and the trip lever whereby it is actuated.

VFig. 3 is an end view of the stop mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation partially in section showing the position of the stop mechanism with relation to the turntable and the tone arm, said view showing the brake in released position.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the brake when applied.

Referring to the .drawings in detail, and

particularly to Fig. 1, A indicates the top of a phonograph cabinet B the turntable, C

a disk record supported thereby, D a stand-- ard form of reproducer, E the tone arm,

and F the sleeve about which the tonearm swings during playing of a record.A

The stop mechanism forming the subject matter of the present application consists of a supporting bracket, generally indicated atCr, a .pointer arm I-I, a trip lever I and a brake mechanism J. y The: supporting bracket is segmental in shape. It consists of a base section 2, a pair of vertically disposed endlegs 3 and a top plate 4. vThe upper ends of the legs 3 are bent at right angles to form lugs 5 for the support of the plate 4, and the upper ends ofl the legs are also slotted as indicated at 6 to permit a segmental shaped carriage 7 to extend therethrough and vto be slidably supported therein. f f

The carriage 7 forms a support'for the pointer arm H and similarly yforthe ltrip lever I-and the brake/mechanism' J. The

pointer arm consists of three sections, a pair of outer telescoping sections 8 and 9 which permit elongation or shortening of the pointer arm, and an inner section 10, the

function of which will hereinafter be de,

scribed.

The inner section 10 is pivotally supported between bearing lugs 11 forming a part of the carriage and these lugs also form `a pivotal support for the brake mechanism generally indicated at J.

The brake mechanism consists of a lever arm 12, on the outer end of which is carried a brake shoe 13. The length of the arm 12 is such that the brake shoe will extend un-y der the turntable as shown in Figs. 5 and... 6, and as such is adapted to engage the un-v der surface of the turntable to stop thevsame when desired. 12 is twisted `and bent `at right angles "as indicated at 14,andthe upper end of the right angular section 14 is again'bent to form a horizontal section v15; the inner end i of the horizontalA section being pivotally secured between' the bearing-lugs 11. The inner end of the brake lever 12 is lto a certain extent U-shape; this U-shaped section l forming a support for the lever 12 and also a support for the vtrip lever I. This lever is pivotally supported at 16 on a lug 17 forming a part of the vertical section 14 The inner end of the lever` of the lever 12. The trip lever I isl disposed at right anglesto `the brake lever 12 and its swinging movement is therefore at right angles thereto. A helical spring 18 forms a connection between the levers 10 and 12. The spring is disposed forwardly of the pivotal mounting 11 of said levers and as the spring is under constant tension the tendency is to maintain the inner end of the pointer arm or the section 10 in a horizontal position, and at the same time to pull the lever arm 12 upwardly to assume an angular position as shown in Fig. 6, or in other words in a position where the brake shoe will be applied. Such movement of the arm 12 is not permitted during the normal operation of the phonograph until the tone arm or the reproducer carried thereby reaches a point where it is desired to stop the same. The lever 12 carrying the brake shoe 13 is therefore normally maintained in a horizontal or in the full line position shown at 12 in Fig. 5; this being due to the function of the trip lever ll. This lever as previously stated is carried by the section 14 of the lever 12 and is pivotally mounted thereon. Just above the pivotal connection referred to and indicated at 1S is formed a notch 19. This notch is adapted to hook over the outer end of the arm 10 as shown in Fig. 2, and lever 12 is thus maintained in released position.

The upper end of the trip lever carries an adjusting screw 20. This screw is adapted to be engaged by the tone arm and when such engagement is made, trip lever l is swung about the pivot 1G in the direction of arrow a. Shoulder 19 formed on the trip lever is thus moved out of engagement with the outer end of the pointer arm section 10 and the sections 111 and 15 of the lever 12 are thus permitted to swing about the pivoty 11 in a downward direction, while the outer end of the lever 12 is swung in an upward direction as indicated by the arrow'b. The brake is thus applied and the turntable comes to a stop.

The general operation of the stop mechanism will be as follows: When a record C has been placed on the turntable and it is desired to adjust the stop mechanism so that the record will be stopped at the end thereof or at a predetermined intermediate point, it is only necessary to grasp the pointer arm and to swing it until the pointer 30 mounted on the end thereof registers with the last groove in the record. The tone arm is then swung until the needle of the reproducer also registers with the last groove in the record and it is then only necessary to adjust the kscrew 20 until it engages the side of the tone arm. The adjustment of the screw 20 is only necessary during` the lirst setting of the stop mechanism and becomes permanent once set. Theftone arm ismoved acl'to starting position when the adjust-l ment has been made and the phonograph may then be started. The tone arm swings gradually over the face of the record in the direction of arrow c (see Fig. l) during the playing thereof and as it reaches the last groove in the record engagement is made loetween the tone arm and the adjusting screw 20. The trip lever' is thus swung about its pivot 16 in the direction of arrow a and as the trip lever is thereby released with relation to the inner end 10 of the pointer arm. spring 18 will instantly exert an upward pull and thereby apply the bralre shoe. The record thus com-es to a stop and will remain so until the stop mechanism is re-set and released. This is accomplished as follows:

The tone arm is swung free of the record and the turntable, and the pointer arm H is then swung about a pivotal connection l1 formed on the inner section 10. The pointer arm has two extended lugs 82 on its inner end and these engage the face of the carriage 6 when arm H is raised. This engagement of the lugs 32 with the face plate 33 of the carriage causes the forward end of arm 10 to raise and the rear end thereof to become depressed; arm 10 assuming the angular position shown at 10a in Fig. 5 when the pointer arm H reaches vertical position. Arm 10 and the upper portion 15 of the brake lever will at this time assume a substantially parallel position and as the trip lever is provided with a counterweight such as shown at 311, the trip lever will automatically swing baclr in a direction opposite to that indicated by arrow a. The shoulder 19 thus swings over the end of the arm 1() and when the pointer arm H is lowered to a horizontal position, rocking movement is imparted to the brake lever and the arm 10 in unison, and they are swung bach to horizontal position as shown in full lines in Fig. 5. The brake is thus released and the playing of the samerecord,or'another record if placed thereon, is thus permitted.

The pointer arm, according to the foregoing explanations, serves three main functions: first, that ofV properly adjusting the stop mechanism; secondly, that of releasing the brake, and third, that. of re-setting the trip lever. Tf the same record which was previously played is to be Ire-played, no adjustment of the pointer arm is required, but if a new record is to be placed on the turntable, release of the brake mechanism should not be permitted until a new record has been placed on the turntable. Therefore, if a record has been played and it is desired to replace it with a new one, it is only necessary to swing the tone arm yout of the way and then to raise the pointer arm to the vertical position shown in Fig. 6. The old record is then removed and a new record placed in position. The pointer arm is again grasped and lowered to horizontal Aposition and it is then swung horizontally lOl) lOf

until the pointer registers with the desired groove in thek record. 'The turntable, together with the record supported thereby, commences rotating the moment the pointer arm is lowered as the brake shoe is simultaneously released, but the turntable does not reach full or playing speed before the pointer arm has been adjusted, and interference with the playing is thus avoided.

By referring to Fig. l it will be noted that the supporting bracket generally indicated at G is segmental in shape and similarly the carriage 7 which is slidably supported therein. The curvature of the segments is obtained by first determiningthe position of the supporting bracket, and then striking a circle from the center point of the sleeve F in which the tone arm turns. This is important as it permits setting of the supporting bracket at any point desired between the sleeve F and the edge of the turntable, and it furthermore permits'the device to be applied to practically any standard machine. It also insures swinging movement of the pointer arm about the same center as that provided `for the tone arm and accurate adjustment is thereby obtained.

The pointer arm, as previously stated, is telescopic in constructionv and the two sections 8 and 9 are provided with a set screw such as indicated at 40, thus permitting elongation of the arm to fit records of various sizes.

The legs 3 on the sup-porting bracket are as previously stated slotted and the segmental carriage 7 which projects through the slotted legs is thus slidably mounted, such sliding movement being imparted by merely swinging the pointer arm so that the pointer 30 'will register with any groove or point on the record desired.

For the purpose of slightly resisting such sliding movement, a spring arm 42 is employed. There may be one or two of these springs as desired. They are secured to the legs 3 and frictionally engage the segmental ends of the carriage, this friction being sufficient to retain the carriage in any adjusted position, and it furthermore prevents movement thereof when the tone arm engages the trip lever. While this and other features of the invention are more or less specifically illustrated, I wish it understood that various changes in form and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. I similarly wish it understood Jthat the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate or various uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. The combination with the turntable of a phonographand a record supported thereby, of a tone arm movable across the face of the record, a manually adjustable member also movable across the face of the record, a'

brake mechanism engageable with the turntable to stop the same, and means carried by the adjustable member adaptedto release the brake mechanism.

2. The combination with the turntable of a phonograph and a record supported thereby, of a. tone arm movable across theface of the record, a movable carriage,'a pointer arm on the carriage also movable across the face ofy the record, a brake mechanism on the carriage engageable with the turntable to stop lthe same, and a trip lever on the carriage adapted to be engaged by thetone arm and to be tripped thereby, said trip lever adapted-.to release'4 the brake mechanism. n

3. The combination with the turntable of a phonograph and a record supported thereby, of a tone arm movable across the face of the record, a movable carriage, a pointer arm on the carriage also movable across the fa'ce of the record, a brake mech-anism on the carriage engageable with the turntable to stopv the same, a trip lever on the carriage adapted to be engaged by the tone arm and to be tripped thereby, said trip lever adapted to release the brake mechanism, and means actuated by the `pointer arm rfor *releasing the brake. i l

4. The combination with-the turntable of a phonograph and a record supported thereby, of a tone arm movabled across the face J of the record, a movable carriage, a pointer arm on the carriage also movable across the face of the record, a brake mechanism on the carriage engageable .with the turntable to stop. the same, a trip lever on the carriage` adapted to beengaged 'by the'tone arm and to be tripped thereby saidtrip leveradapted to release the brake mechanism, and means actuated by the pointer arm for resetting the trip lever. Y

5. The combination with the turntable of a phonograph and a record supported thereby, of a. tone arm movable across the face of the record, a movable carriage, a pointer arm on the carriage also movable across the face of the record, a brake mechanism on the carriage engageable with the turntable to stop the same, a trip lever on the carriage adapted to be engaged by the tone arm and to be tripped thereby, said trip lever adapted to release and apply the brake mechanism, and a single means actuated by the pointer arm for releasing the brake and simultaneously re-setting the trip lever.

6. A device ofthe character described, comprising a supporting bracket, a segmental shaped carriage slidably supported therein, a pair of bearing lugs on said carriage, a brake lever pivotally mounted between sof said lugs, an inner arm p'ivotally mounted between said bearing lugs, a spring connecting said `arm and the brake lever, a trip lever pivotally mounted on the brake lever and adapted to `releaselt-he vbrake lever with relationto the arm'7 .and a pointerarm pivotallysecured to said arm` 7. A device of the character described, comprising. asupporting bracket, a segmental shaped carriage slidably` supported therein, a pair of bearing lugs on said carriage, a brake lever pivotally mounted between said lugs, an inner arm pivotally mounted between said bearing lugs, a spring connecting said arm and the brake lever, a trip `'lever pivotally mounted on the brake lever and adapted to release the brake lev-er with relation to the arm, a pointer arm pivotally secured to said arm, and a cam member on the pointer arm adapted to impart rocking movement to the lirst'named arm.

8. The combination with the turntable of a phonograph and 'a record supported thereby', of a-tone arm movable across the tace of the -record, a` supporting bracket, a carriage movable therein, a pointer arm on the carriage also movable:y across the ace'of the record, a brake leversup'ported by the carriage, a'ltrip lever pivotally 'attached-tothe brake lever, adjustable means on said trip lever engageable with the tone arm and adapted-to trip the trip lever to release vthe brake arm, a brake shoe on saidl brake arm, a spring for applying the brake shoe. means actuated by the pointer arm Jfor 'releasing and' resetting the brake, and other means for automatically relsetting the trip lever.

9. The combination `with the turntableof' a. phonograph and a record vsupported thereby, of' a tone arm movable across theface of the record, a supporting bracket, a carriage movable therein,v a pointer arm' on the v.carriage also movable across 4the faceaot:

the record,a brake lever supported by the carriage, a trip lever pivotally attached to the brake lever, adjustable means on said trip` lever engageable with the vtone arm andadapted totrip thetrip lever to release the brake arm, a brake shoe on said brake arm, afspring` for applying the brake shoe, means actuated by the pointer arm for releasing and re-setting` the brake, other means for automatically resetting the trip lever, and friction means resisting move-` ment oit' the carriage.

10.y The combination with the turntable of a'phonograph and a record supported thereby, otra tone arm movable across the. i'ace of the record, av support for the tone arm having a central point about which it swings, a carriage adapted to swing about lthe same centralpoint as the tone arm, a pointer arm on said carriage also movable over the face of the record, a bralre mechanism on the carriage, and a trip mechanism on the carriagefactuated by the toney arm and when tripped thereby adapted to release t-he brake and thereby stop the turntable.

ll. The combination with the turntable of a phonograph and a. record supported thereby, of a tone arm movable across the face of the recordg a support for the tone arm'having a central point about which it swings, a carriage adapted to swing about thesame central point as the tone arm, a pointer arm on said carriage also movable overthe face Vof the` record, a brake mechanismxon the carriage, a trip mechanism on the carriage actuated by the tone `arm and when tripped thereby adapted to release the brake and thereby stop the turntable, manually adjustable means on the trip lever engageable with the tone' arm,v and friction actuated means resisting movement of the carriagei.

PAUL v. RICHTER 

